It is the battle of the unbeatens as the BC Lions go to IG Field to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both teams sit 2-0 and one of them will claim top spot in the West after tonight’s game.
While the Lions are coming off a huge win last week, blanking the Edmonton Elks – something rarely done in the CFL – the Bombers are coming off an impressive win against their rivals from Saskatchewan.
This game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the league – statistically this season. Why the disclaimer? I believe that Zach Collaros the two time Most Outstanding Player is heads and tails above Veron Adams. Yet regardless of what I think you can see that they are close when looking at the 2023 statistics.
Depth Charts
While the Bombers are looking to be in pretty good shape, the question that remains is if Brady Oliveira will play and if so, how much? Listed as a “game time decision” Augustine may get more of the workload this week. Through two weeks Oliveira was second in the league in rushing with 155 yards. If Oliveira is not good to go I wonder if we will see more of Demski with some screens, hitches, and sweeps.
Another question that I will be looking to get answered is how much playing time Pigrome receives. After failing to reach the end zone on multiple attempts in Week 1, Pigrome had no snaps in Week 2. Dru Brown played the short yardage plays and had two short yardage touchdowns in Week 2. Does Pigrome get another shot? They have him hear because they believe he can play, so it will be interesting to see how long it is until Pigrome gets another snap.
A big play maker, and a fan favorite even in Winnipeg, returns for the BC Lions in the name of Lucky Whitehead. However, my eyes will be on BC Lions’ quarterback, Vernon Adams. In past years Vernon Adams was referred to as “BP” meaning “Big Play” Vernon Adams. Yet in recent years Vernon Adams’ play has dropped off and I have wondered if “BP” might mean “Battered Player.”
One cannot simply dismiss the play of Vernon Adams over the past two weeks. Yet in the same way people raved about Rourke early in the 2022 season, I had said that he has not played Winnipeg yet. For me, that is the same litmus test for Vernon Adams in 2023.
In 2022 Vernon Adams did play Winnipeg on October 15 and went 13/22 for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. The Lions did squeak out a win but Winnipeg was resting many of their players including Zach Collaros.
Prediction
I think the Bombers walk out of Week 3 going “1-0” again in another wildly entertaining game – to put their season record at 3-0. We know the fans will be ferocious again on the opposition at every turn. However, I believe that BC will hold their own and the Bombers will win the game with a 10 margin of victory.
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